The McLennan County Intake & Reception is a 960 bed jail in the city of Waco, McLennan County, Texas.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 254-757-5120, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
Phone: 254-757-5120
Physical Address:
901 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 254-757-5120 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up Criminal Court Cases in McLennan County and anywhere in Texas.
McLennan County Intake & Reception Inmate Search
The McLennan County Intake & Reception maintains an average of 960 offenders in custody on any given day. The McLennan County Intake & Reception has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year McLennan County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 39,840 offenders.
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The McLennan County Intake & Reception is is the place where recent offenders who have been arrested are taken to be booked and classified. It is classified as a medium to medium high security facility that is approved for up to 200 beds. Once they are classified, they are taken to the Mclennan County Detention Center on Highway 6. The address of this jail is 901 Washington in downtown Waco. The address for the Detention Center is 3201 Marlin Hwy (Highway 6), Waco, TX 76705. You can reach the Intake Center Jail, which is also the Sheriff's Headquarters, at 254-757-5120.
The McLennan County Intake & Reception maintains a list of inmates that it updates every hour. You can also call the jail at 254-757-5120 if you have a question about an inmate in custody. The list also outlines the inmate's criminal charges, bond amounts, SO# and besides other personal information, their most recent mugshot from when they were arrested.
Inmates at this jail can only get visits by video. There are no face-to-face visits. You can also visit remotely from the comfort of your home. The video visitation center is not at the jail, but is down the street from the Detention Center, located at 3201 Marlin Hwy (Highway 6), and the center can be reached by phone by calling 254-757-5095.
The visitation center building looks like this:
Recently the McLennan County Intake & Reception, in order to control the introduction of contraband, including paper soaked in illegal drugs, started using a third party mail servce in Maryland, which is why the mailing address for personal letters... not legal mail or priodicals... is not the same as the address you would think. TextBehind receives the letters and then scans them, converting them to a digital file and then that letter is shown to your inmate.
There's a lot more information about visiting remotely with an inmate, texting them, bailing them out, getting phone calls from them and much more, all found in detail below this section. If you still have any questions, give the jail a call at 254-757-5120.
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the McLennan County Intake & Reception, call the jail’s booking line at 254-757-5120.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
McLennan County Intake & Reception Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in McLennan County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in McLennan County and other Texas and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the McLennan County Intake & Reception will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
Call 254-757-5120 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the McLennan County inmate locator.
Because McLennan County and Texas can change their bail bond procedures, it is always best to call either the McLennan County Intake & Reception at 254-757-5120, or the court in the jurisdiction (i.e. Municipal Court, District Court, etc.) where the offender was charged, and do this right after an arrestee has been booked.
Ask the staff at the McLennan County Intake & Reception or the McLennan County Court Clerk these specific questions:
If you feel the bail is too high and you wish to get it reduced, contact a lawyer or the defendant's public defender and get them to look into what they can do to get a bail reduction. The sooner you get working on this the quicker you will get your loved one released.
This entire process will go smoother and faster with a criminal attorney or bail agent handling it for you.
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How Do You Visit an Inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception? What is the Schedule?
Visits take place by video at:
Shepherd Mullens Correctional Visitation Center
3421 Marlin Hwy, Waco, TX 76705
254-757-5095
Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | 8:00 AM - 5:00PM |
| MONDAY | 8:00 AM - 5:00PM |
| DAY | TIME |
| TUESDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| THURSDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| FRIDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| SATURDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
How it Works with GettingOut
1. Register an account.
2. Select McLennan County Intake & Reception
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.
4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.
GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.
Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
Frequently Asked Questions
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.
To visit an inmate in McLennan County, whether by video or in person 'at the jail', follow these steps:
Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate, which is explained and outlined in detail on our Visit Inmate Page, McLennan County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of GettingOut.
There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate in McLennan County Intake & Reception:
1. Using the GettingOut Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut apps.
To remotely visit an inmate in McLennan County follow these steps:
1. Start by confirming that McLennan County Intake & Reception's Video Visitation is working correctly by looking up McLennan County here.
2. The next step is to create an account here for GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account.
4. Last, select McLennan County Intake & Reception, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.
Other McLennan County Services provided by GettingOut:
- Phone Calls & Voicemail
- Email, Photo & Video Sharing
- Inmate Tablet Rental
- Deposits
Customer Service
If you have any questions about the McLennan County Intake & Reception Visitation Services you can call them at 866-516-0115.
Frequently Asked Questions
* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in McLennan County, can be found on our Visit Inmate Page.
McLennan County Intake & Reception Phone: 254-757-5120
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception?
Shepherd Mullens Correctional Visitation Center
3421 Marlin Hwy, Waco, TX 76705
254-757-5095
Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout
| DAY | TIME |
| SUNDAY | 8:00 AM - 5:00PM |
| MONDAY | 8:00 AM - 5:00PM |
| DAY | TIME |
| TUESDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| THURSDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| FRIDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
| SATURDAY | 1:00PM - 9:00PM |
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception?
1. Commissary money in the form of a money order may be mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722
2. You may use cash or credit/debit cards at any time by using the kiosk located in the front lobby. The fee for the use of the ATM is generally $1.50 per transaction for cash and 10% fee for credit/debit cards.
3. Commissary money can also be added to an inmates account at any time using any of these methods online.
4. Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.
5. You can call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249 and get instructions for depositing money over the phone using a debit or credit card.
How to Make a Deposit for Phone, Email or Visitation using GettingOut.com
McLennan County Intake & Reception uses GettingOut for some or all of its communication services with an inmate.
If you want to deposit money using this company for your use or your inmate's account, there are four ways to do it:
For all the information you need to know, including tips, guidelines and warnings about depositing money in a McLennan County Intake & Reception inmate's account for communication services, check out our Send Money page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception?
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
For full instructions on the McLennan County Intake & Reception Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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How do I Mail an Inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The McLennan County Intake & Reception allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The McLennan County Intake & Reception also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The McLennan County Intake & Reception allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address below.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the McLennan County Intake & Reception standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Postcards
The McLennan County Intake & Reception allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.
Envelopes
The McLennan County Intake & Reception also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Legal Mail
Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The McLennan County Intake & Reception allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address below.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the McLennan County Intake & Reception standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking (SO#) #
McLennan County Jail, TX
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception, and what can I purchase?
Access Securepak carries over 1,000 different items in the following categories:
- Food and Snacks
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Electronics
- Apparel
Registration Process:
1. Register here.
2. Select Texas.
3. Select McLennan County Intake & Reception.
4. Find your Inmate.
5. Deposit Funds.
6. Order Commissary Items.
Once you are logged in, you will receive instructions on how much (and what products) you can send your inmate.
Contact Information:
* If you have any questions, you can call Access Securepak at 800-546-6283.
* You can email My Care Pack at [email protected].
* You can write them at:
Access Securepak
10880 Linpage Place
St. Louis, MO 63132
* You can Live Chat with a Representative online: (bottom left corner of page)
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m. CST,
and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CST.
*Note* Access Securepak will issue a refund for or replace broken, damaged, or missing products reported by McLennan County Intake & Reception staff. They will not honor reports of discrepancies from inmate's families or friends.
My CarePack is the McLennan County Intake & Reception's outside vendor for Commissary Items. They have a very good mix of Chips, Snacks, Candy, Meat, Seafood, Hygiene products, Letter writing materials, Electronics and Apparel items for sale on their website.
*NOTE* -- Once you are fully registered and have selected the inmate you wish to send commissary to, you will receive instructions on how much you can deposit, how much (and what) you can purchase for your inmate, and how often you can send commissary.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in McLennan County Intake & Reception follow these steps:
For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in McLennan County Intake & Reception check out our Commissary Instructions Page for McLennan County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the McLennan County Intake & Reception using an Online Messaging Service?
McLennan County Intake & Reception contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select McLennan County Intake & Reception,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
How Messaging Works
Watch this video on how to send a message.
1. Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message. Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
How Uploading Photos Works
Watch this video on how to upload a photo.
1. Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
To mail or email an inmate in McLennan County follow these steps:
When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:
Emailing Messages & Photos
Facility_name_1} contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select McLennan County Intake & Reception,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.
All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for McLennan County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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Do Inmates in the McLennan County Intake & Reception have Access to Tablets or Computers?
The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at McLennan County Intake & Reception, such as:
- Free services are already available for use on the device at McLennan County Intake & Reception.
- Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
- McLennan County Intake & Reception Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.
What Does a Tablet Cost?
To estimate costs for phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page) or call 866-516-0115 for assistance.
To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:
1. First, Register or Sign In to GettingOut/GTL
2. Purchase the services you want for your McLennan County Intake & Reception inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.
To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about McLennan County Intake & Reception’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 254-757-5120 for further assistance.
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What are the other City and County Jails in McLennan County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding McLennan County?
This facility, known as "McLennan County Intake & Reception" is also known as McLennan Co. Detention Ctr - Hwy 6, McLennan County Jail & Detention Center Hwy 6 , McLennan County Jail & Detention Center Hwy 6 , Texas, Waco-McLennan.
